Published on: Fri, 18 Jan 2019
In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the competent national authority in Belgium prepared a request to modify the existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the active substance spirotetramat in Florence fennels and rhubarbs. Furthermore, in accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Bayer SAS submitted a request to the competent national authority in Austria to modify the existing MRLs for spirotetramat in the group of ...

Published on: Wed, 16 Jan 2019
The additive cassia gum consists mainly of high-molecular weight polysaccharides composed primarily of a linear chain of 1,4-b-D-mannopyranose units with 1,6-linked a-D-galactopyranose units. In 2014, the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) delivered an opinion on the safety and efﬁcacy of cassia gum in cats and dogs. The Panel concluded, based on positive ﬁndings observed in a bacterial reverse mutation test with a semi-reﬁned cassia...

Published on: Thu, 20 Dec 2018
Between 16 August and 15 November 2018, 14 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N8) outbreaks in poultry establishments in Bulgaria and seven HPAI A(H5N6) outbreaks, one in captive birds in Germany and six in wild birds in Denmark and the Netherlands were reported in the European Union (EU). No human infection due to HPAI A(H5N8) and A(H5N6) viruses have been reported in Europe so far. Seroconversion of people exposed during outbreaks in Russia has been reported in...

Published on: Wed, 19 Dec 2018
Since September 2017, EFSA has been providing ongoing scientific and technical support to the European Commission and Member States (MSs) in the collection, collation, and analysis of epidemiological data relevant to the monitoring of avian influenza (AI) viruses in Europe and third countries. From 2019 onwards, EFSA will also be responsible for collecting, collating, and analysing the data gathered by MSs via their surveillance programmes in poultry and wild birds. To eff...

Published on: Wed, 19 Dec 2018
EFSA was requested to provide scientific assistance to the European Commission on a detoxification process for dioxins and PCBs from sunflower cake by hexane extraction in an emergency situation, as specified in Article 7 of Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/786. The process entails hexane extraction of sunflower oil from the cake to remove dioxins (PCDDs and PCDFs) as well as DL- and NDL-PCBs. The data provided by the applicant were assessed with respect to the efficacy of ...

Published on: Fri, 30 Nov 2018
The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process RecyPET Hungária (EU register number RECYC0146). The input is hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, containing no more than 5% of PET from non‐food applications. The flakes are dried and extruded. The output of the extrusion step is cut into pellets in an underwater...

Published on: Thu, 29 Nov 2018
Avian influenza viruses infect domestic poultry and wild birds as well as humans. In poultry, depending on whether these viruses are of high pathogenicity (HPAI) or low pathogenicity (LPAI), the infection can cause different clinical signs, with HPAI causing high mortality in poultry flocks. In order to ensure early detection of avian influenza viruses, surveillance in poultry and wild birds is considered essential. In 2010, the European Commission provided some guidelines...

Published on: Thu, 29 Nov 2018
The study described in this report was conducted with the aim of developing an unified database of ecological data and residue data to be used for the risk assessment of plant protection products for birds and mammals. The main sources of data were the information submitted in the context of approval of active substances and authorization of products and and additional information retrieved through a systematic literature review. The data were screened and organised in thr...

Gemini Food Corporation has voluntarily recalled all Imperial Taste Fried Red Onions & Fried Garlic canisters as a precautionary measure because it’s missing an allergen statement and the ingredient panel does not include wheat.

Published on: Tue, 20 Nov 2018
Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDD), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and dioxin‐like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL‐PCBs) are detected ubiquitously in the environment, diet and human tissues. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) CONTAM Panel received a mandate from the European Commission for a scientific opinion on the risks for human and animal health related to the presence of dioxins and DL‐PCBs in food and feed. To support preparatory work for the hazard i...

Published on: Tue, 20 Nov 2018
To enable the hazard identification and characterisation in the risk assessment for humans related to the seventeen 2,3,7,8‐substituted dioxins (PCCDs) and furans (PCDFs) and the twelve dioxin‐like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL‐PCBs), EFSA outsourced an extensive literature search (ELS), followed by selection for relevance and extraction of relevant data for consideration in the risk assessment. Two tailored search strategies for Web of Science (WoS) and PubMed for identif...

Published on: Fri, 09 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0100
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was asked by the European Commission to provide scientific assistance with respect to the evaluation of applications received by the European Commission concerning basic substances. In this context, EFSA's scientific views on the specific points raised during the commenting phase conducted with Member States and EFSA on the basic substance application for propolis extract are presented. The context of the evaluation ...

Published on: Tue, 30 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0100
Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of a super critical carbon dioxide extract of Humulus lupulus L. flos (hop strobiles) when used as a sensory feed additive for all animal species. The additive is specified to containing 40% beta acids and less than 0.2% alpha acids. Known substances of conce...

Published on: Tue, 30 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0100
The conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State the United Kingdom and co‐rapporteur Member State Germany for the pesticide active substance methiocarb are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative use...

Published on: Wed, 24 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0200
Zinc chelate of methionine sulfate is intended to be used as a nutritional additive (functional group: compounds of trace elements). The additive is zinc chelated with methionine in a molar ratio 1:1. It is intended to supply zinc as a nutritional additive to all animal species/categories. In 2017, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) adopted an opinion on the safety and efficacy of zinc chelate of methionine su...

Published on: Mon, 22 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0200
The applicant BASF Agro BV submitted a request to the competent national authority in the Netherlands to evaluate the confirmatory data that were identified in the framework of the maximum residue level (MRL) review under Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 as not available. To address the data gaps, residue trials on strawberries, onions, garlic, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, artichokes, leeks and rape seeds were submitted. The data gaps are considere...

Published on: Mon, 15 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0200
A rapid qualitative assessment has been done by performing a theoretical analysis on the transmission of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) via fresh meat from poultry reared or kept in captivity for the production of meat (raw poultry meat) or raw table eggs. A predetermined transmission pathway followed a number of steps from a commercial or non‐commercial poultry establishment within the EU exposed to LPAI virus (LPAIV) to the onward virus transmission...

Published on: Thu, 27 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0200
Between 16 May and 15 August 2018, three highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N8) outbreaks in poultry establishments and three HPAI A(H5N6) outbreaks in wild birds were reported in Europe. Three low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) outbreaks were reported in three Member States. Few HPAI and LPAI bird cases have been detected in this period of the year, in accordance with the seasonal expected pattern of LPAI and HPAI. There is no evidence to date ...

Published on: Thu, 13 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0200
The conclusions of the EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authority of the rapporteur Member State, Germany, for the pesticide active substance azadirachtin are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the additional representative use of azadir...

Published on: Mon, 10 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0200
Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA periodically updates the database on the host plants of Xylella spp. While previous editions of the database (2015 and 2016) dealt with the species Xylella fastidiosa only, this database version addresses the whole genus Xylella, including therefore both species X. fastidiosa and Xylella taiwanensis. The database now includes information on host plants of Xylella spp. retrieved from scientific literature...

Published on: Tue, 28 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0200
Botanicals and preparations derived from these are among the substances frequently added to foods and food supplements, yet the safety of many botanicals has not been systematically assessed. In the context of the EU‐FORA fellowship programme, the fellow performed an assessment on the safety of the botanical Gymnema sylvestre, in accordance with EFSA's guidance on the assessment of safety of botanicals. Although preparations of G. sylvestre are marketed as f...

World Variety Produce, Inc. of Los Angeles, CA is voluntarily recalling Spicy Edamame 7oz, because it contains the undeclared shellfish/crustacean allergen “Oyster Extract” ingredient within the spicy sauce packet. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to shellfish run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

Lake Michigan Distilling Company, LLC of La Porte, Indiana, doing business as Ethanol Extraction, is
recalling its 95% Ethyl Alcohol product (“Product”) because of possible contamination with methanol, a
highly toxic type of alcohol that can cause serious and sometimes fatal damage if ingested by humans or
animals.

Breast pumps are medical devices regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. They can be used to extract milk, maintain or increase a woman's milk supply, and relieve engorged breasts (among other indications). But, to protect mothers and their babies, there are important safety considerations to know before using one.

Today, the Agency is publishing an inventory of alternatives to antibiotics aimed at reducing their use in animal husbandry and based on an original method for evaluating the diverse scientific publications in the field. In its report, ANSES identifies numerous products and substances including compounds, plants, plant extracts and micro-organisms, which are used as alternatives to antibiotics. However, it emphasises the diversity of the data available to assess their safety and efficacy, and their abili...